Designer Genes - Fashioning Our Biological Future

Explore the ethical implications and scientific advancements of genetic engineering in human reproduction through this thought-provoking panel discussion from the 2014 World Science Festival. Delve into topics such as three-person IVF, mitochondrial transfer, and the potential for customizing children's DNA with leading experts in genetics, fertility, and bioethics. Examine the history of genetic engineering, current practices in IVF labs, and the future possibilities of designer babies. Gain insights into the concerns surrounding these technologies, the ethical boundaries being drawn, and the potential impact on our biological future. Learn from the diverse perspectives of geneticist George Church, fertility specialists Paula Amato and Jamie Grifo, and bioethicists Sheldon Krimsky and Nita Farahany as they debate the risks, benefits, and societal implications of advancing genetic technologies in human reproduction.

Emily Senay's Introduction.
Participant Introductions.
The history of genetic engineering.
Sheldon Krimsky shares his experience of being at Cambridge in 1976.
What was the mayor concerned about?
Was the mayor wrong to be concerned?
Three person IVF and mitochondrial transfer.
In the lab with three person IVF.
The reason why people are so against this new technology.
What are the basic ethical issues for mitochondrial transfer?
what will guarantee that nobody uses this for the wrong purpose
What is the next step for mitochondrial transfer?
What is happening now in the IVF lab?
Customizing your children's DNA.
Why are lines drawn in the sand for some of these procedures?
Are we already making designer babies?
Should be more or less concerned today with mitochondrial transfer?